In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts
In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts of the capital, including areas that had never before been touched by flood waters. The flooding claimed many lives and crippled the capital for days.
Thousands of people had to spend nights in their vehicles or in roadside shelters because the roads to their homes were underwater.
Now, one year later, we are again entering February and heavy rains are expected. The peak of the rainy season for Greater Jakarta is expected to be in February.
Gunawan Ibrahim, head of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, has warned people to be alert as the soil will not be able to absorb excessive rain water. He said preparation and precaution are necessary to anticipate the flooding.
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta
Bush, candy and the war
The drum of war has yet to be beaten, but President George W. Bush's speech in front of Congress clearly gave the impression that his ambition is to hit Iraq.
Bush stuck to his promise to disarm Iraq -- especially of its weapons of mass destruction. Bush promised to send Secretary of State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council on Feb. 5 to reveal what he described as evidence of Iraqi defiance to disarm.
"If Saddam Hussein does not disarm, for the sake of our people's security and world peace, we will lead a coalition to disarm him," Bush said to warm applause from Congress.
Unilateralism will likely be the choice of the U.S. But this choice is not only about Iraq and Saddam, but also to many bigger issues. The choice is against multilateralism, which respects other states' and nations' concerns.
Isn't there any other way to settle the Iraqi crisis besides war? Unfortunately, Bush did not gave any signal that he would back down. He said he would distribute "candies" to win the support of American communities, through his promise to improve the country's economy and health services.
-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta
The boss behind bars
An inmate can control his business from his jail cell. It is strange but true, as demonstrated by Innocent Iwuofor, a Nigerian national jailed at Tangerang Penitentiary for drug charges.
Ino, as he is known, began his jail term in 2000. To the surprise of the police, he continued to control and organize his drug operation behind bars over a cellular phone, one of several items prohibited to convicts.
The penitentiary warden, Radja Grand S., said the cellular phone had been "smuggled in" by a visitor. The warden can make excuses but the bottom line is that the penitentiary's screening of visitors is very lax.
It would come as no surprise to learn that many penitentiary employees are unscrupulous. There have been several reports of special privileges for certain convicts. It is not surprising that some "special" convicts are allowed to leave the prison at night, while other convicts have their own TV sets in their cells. Special treatment for certain convicts is not new for penitentiary employees.
What is the meaning of jail if a convict is still able to run his or her business; the same business that put them in jail in the first place?
The key to solving this problem is cooperation among law enforcement institutions.
The police, prosecutor's office, the courts and other institutions dealing with law enforcement must improve their cooperation, or some inmates will continue to receive special privileges by bribing officials.
If inmates can buy the law, we all will suffer because crime will continue to spread throughout the country.
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta